Carer Jailed For £100k Theft From Elderly Woman

6 February 2013, 05:00

A woman's been sentenced to two years in prison after stealing from an elderly woman she was looking after.

Angela Perkins of Music House Lane in Norwich pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing at Norwich Crown Court and was sentenced to two years at Norwich Crown Court on Tuesday 5 February. 

She was initially charged at the end of July last year with taking £55,000 from a 90-year-old woman in Norwich she was paid to care for over a five year period between 2005 and 2010. The indictment was later amended to in excess of £100,000.

The victim, who is in 24 hour residential care and suffers from dementia, had 'private' support from Perkins with shopping and cleaning. Consequently, she had access to the victim's PIN numbers and bank cards.  

Investigating Officer from Vulnerable People Directorate DC Huw Caine said: "The actions of Perkins left the victim confused, upset and extremely traumatised with worry due to the fact her savings had dwindled away and didn't have any money left in her account. Perkins exploited the fact the victim was vulnerable and removed money from the victim's account for her own use abusing her position of trust.

Perkins was also employed as a carer by domicillary care agencies during this period.

 "When Perkins was challenged in interview about accounting for cash withdrawals from the victim's account that has corresponded with deposits into her own account she was unable to give any satisfactory answers."

DC Caine added: "The case highlights that offences of this nature and the targeting of some of our most vulnerable people in society will not be tolerated. I hope that the results of this case highlight to other potential offenders how robustly Norfolk Constabulary will investigate and deal with such incidents."

Norfolk Constabulary continues to seek substantial confiscation from Perkins under the Proceeds of Crime Act.